The 2016 Brrr Winter caching series is focused around historical locations in the greater Holland area. In addition to giving you a chance to add another smiley to your stats and have a little Geowinterfun we've added a touch of learning. We hope you have fun caching and learning. Don't forget to grab the code for the bonus cache.
In 1847, Isaac Cappon, a young Dutch Immigrant, arrived in the newly founded Holland colony. Ten years after emigrating from Zeeland province, the Netherlands, in 1857, Cappon and business partner John Bertsch opened the Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company in Holland. By the 1880s, the Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company was the largest tannery operation in Michigan. Cappon was one of the city’s wealthiest residents. The successful businessman was also an active public servant. On March 25, 1867, the City of Holland was chartered, and Cappon was elected its first mayor.
In 1849, Mr. Pfanstiehl, the owner of a Grand Rapids Tannery, employed Cappon. In 1857, 27 year-old Cappon and his colleague John Bertsh co-founded the Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company in Holland. At the time of the company’s establishment, the men owned an “unshingled wooden shed, 12 vats, and a white horse.” Through hard work and industry, the Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company prospered. The businessmen secured government contracts throughout the Civil War, which in 1863 necessitated the expansion of their enterprise. In October 1871, the Great Holland Fire destroyed the tannery. Cappon and Bertsch’s decision to rebuild the tannery, which was developing into one of Holland’s largest employers, assisted the city’s economic recovery. In 1875, a stock company was formed. According to the author of Cappon’s obituary, the stock company “made it possible to enlarge the business, and to increase the annual production, and the growth … continued steadily until the Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company was the largest in the West.” At the time of his death in 1902, the company boasted an annual output over $1 billion. The plant, which was located at the present site of the Civic Center, covered 15 acres of land. Through his successful business venture, Cappon became a millionaire and one of Holland’s wealthiest residents.
To learn more about Isaac Cappon and this home check out the information on the related web page link.
The posted coords place you in front of Isaac Cappon's home and a historic marker. To locate the geocache you will need to collect a little information.
The geocache is located at N42 47.ABC W86 06.XYZ
A= Third digit in Registered Historical Site NO.
B= third digit in the year the city acquired the property
C= Last digit in the year Isaac was born
X= Last digit of the year Cappon & Bertsch Leather Co was founded.
Y= Number of times "Isaac Cappon" appears on the sign.
Z= Third digit in the year Isaac died
Checksum ABCXYZ = 21